Improvement in oscillating steam-engines



Aucnsrmrrlucna, Je., or -PHILADELPHIng PENNSYLVANIA- Letters Patent N 106,860, dated August 30, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT nv'oscILLA'rInrG-1 STEAM-ENGINES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all lwhom 'it may conce-rn.:

Be it known that I, AUGUST NiTTlNGnn, Jr.,ot the city and county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new andnseful Improvement in scillating Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,'clcar, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same.

My invention relates -to that class of oscillating steam-engines in which the cylinder and steam-chest are applied together in such a manner that the cylinder may turn on 'the steam-chest. This is accomplished by making the bottom of the cylinder convex, and resting it in a. concave made in the upper part ot' the steam-chest.

The present invention consists in arrangingsprings under the bearings which support the trunnions of the cylinder in such a manner that it (the cylinder) is confined closely down on the'steam-chest, so that the` steam cannot escape between'them while the cylinder isili motion. vA vturn-table is also connected with the cylindeiglso that it can be turned around and the motion of the piston reversed, so as to canse the crank of the engine to turn under instead of over.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improvements in oscillating steam-engines.

Figure 2 is a vert-ical section of the saine.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the steam-chest, with the cylinder removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional View of the steam-chest and lower part of the cylinder.

To enable those skilled in the art to makeaud use 1n y invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation. V The steam-chest C is iliade cylindrical in form, and is providedyat the lower part with a ange, F, which forms the base or bed-plate of the engine, and in the interior of the same is arranged au induction-chamher, I, provided withports Pand I", and an eductionchamber, R, provided with a port, I. Y

The upper part of the stid steam-chest `is nrade concave, and into which is tted the lower end of thc base-piece B, to which the cylinder is rmly bolted, and on the opposite sides ofthe base-piece are formed trunnions T and y The trunnions are fitted into bearings D and D'.

These bearings are composed of two uprights, the lower ends of which are made circular, and are passed through an annular plate, A, and are provided with nuts N and N' and coiled springs S and S'.

lhe central portion of the plate A encircles the cylindrical part of the steam-chest near the upper end, an annular recess being made to receive it, so as to allow it to be revolved, and'at the same time carrying around with it the bearings D and D, which support the cylinder. I

The plate A has formed or secured on one side of it a handle, H, which engages with a catch, E, attachedl to one side ot' an upright, G, which rises above the lower flange I".

On the opposite side of' the said flange is a similar upright, G', which supports the handle H when the plate is turned. This upright is also supplied with a catch for holding the plate when turned in 'the position desired.

The coiled springs S and S' are of sntticicnt elasticity to draw the bearings D and D downward, and thus canse the base-piece. B to press with sulicient forceren the steam-chest; C to form a flexible steamtight joint. The base-piece' and the steam-chest, in this case, are ground and fitted together.

When it is desired to reverse the motion ot' the piston, and cause the crank to turn in a contrary direction, or to turn under instead ot' over, the plate A is turned completel y around, by means of the handle H, in the same manner as an ordinary turn-table, which causes the steam to enter the opposite port, and to act on the opposite side of the piston.

I dov not wish to claim an oscillating steam-engine in which the lower part is made concave 01 convex, so as to lit over a corresponding protuberance, or in a depression madein the steam-chest which supports the cylinder; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The construction and arrangement of the heal'- ings I) and D', coiled springs S and S', nuts N and-N', plate A, and handle H, as and for the purpose herein specied.

2. In combination with the above, the steam-chest C, provided with a llange, F, uprights G and G', and catches E, in the manner and for thc purpose herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST NIITINGER, Jia.

Witnesses:

IsAAo R. OAKFORD, Guo. E. NICHOLS. 

